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Sunday, 30 July 2006 |
EU boost for birds
Birdlife Cyprus has hailed a legal move by the European Commission
that has effectively put an end to shooting in Malta and which could
have huge relevance for hunting in Cyprus, the organisation said.
The Commission has opened a legal infringement procedure against the
Maltese government for allowing the spring hunting of Turtle Doves and
Quails.
Malta has tried to justify permitting the spring
shoot by using a derogation from the Birds Directive, claiming that
only during spring did hunters have any chance of shooting the birds.
“The same argument was quoted by the Cyprus Hunters Federation earlier
this year when it attempted – unsuccessfully – to push our government
to permit spring hunting of the same species, using a derogation,� said
Birdlife.
However, the Commission’s decision sends a clear message to Malta that
there will be no special treatment and that it could be taken to the
European Court, a decision that has implications for Cyprus.
“Birdlife Cyprus welcomes this decision by the Commission because it
effectively closes the door on spring shooting in Cyprus too. We are
not and anti-hunting organisation, but shooting has to be sustainable
and the ban on spring shooting is a key part of this sustainability,�
said Birdlife Cyprus Manager Martin Hellicar. “The pressure that the EU
Commission is putting on Malta over this issue shows that EU member
states cannot get away with ignoring the Birds Directive.�
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